Diamonds Are Forever
AFTER THE SUNSET

RATING: B-

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle, Naomie Harris.  Music by Lalo Shifren, Director of Photography Dante Spinoti, Produced by Beau Flynn, Written by Paul Zybszewski, Directed by Brett Ratner.
 
Rated PG-13, Running Time 104 mins.  2.40 to 1 Anamorphic Scope Aspect Ratio.

Pierce Brosnan's days as James Bond may be over, but a new phase of his career is just beginning with his starring role in After The Sunset, an adventure/comedy from talented director Brett Ratner.  Brosnan, still beguiling in his early fifties, plays Max Burnett a master thief with a renowned reputation for not just his skills but the fact that he always has a solid alibi while a caper is being pulled off.  After nabbing a rare diamond, with the help of his lover and partner in crime Salma Hayek, Brosnan decides to cash in and the two retire on a island paradise in the Bahamas.  They're quitting at the top of their game and Hayek is eager to begin a new chapter in their lives as husband and wife.  That doesn't last long because Brosnan's nemesis, FBI agent Woody Harrelson, has tailed them to the islands, hell bent on settling a score.
 
Harrelson has made a career out of chasing Brosnan, hoping to catch him red-handed, but to no avail.  As the agent in charge he lost that diamond to Brosnan and is pretty sure this "retirement" is a cover for his latest operation.  A luxury cruise ship has just arrived on its maiden voyage and a prized jewel resides on-board in a museum: another rare diamond and perhaps the only one Brosnan hasn't stolen yet.  Brosnan feigns ignorance and insists that he's retired but begins to question even himself.  Also unsure is Hayek, who suspects that Brosnan's promise of a fresh start may just be a mirage. 
 
Tempted by the thrill of another caper, Brosnan begins a playful game of cat and mouse with Harrelson that borders on friendship.  So playful in fact that to the casual observer it appears that these two may have a gay relationship--a comedy of errors that plays very well due to Harrelson and Brosnan's chemistry.  Also igniting the screen is Brosnan's chemistry with Hayek in a perfect match that's rare in today's films.  These two obviously adore one another, but the question is whether he'll take her for granted and break his promise.  Brosnan isn't just threatened by Harrelson, but Don Cheadle, as a preppie American who has re-invented himself as a gangster on the island.  Cheadle and his henchmen pressure Brosnan to steal the diamond for them because the capitalist in him wants to bring more job opportunities to the people, the kind of opportunities that involve gambling, prostitution and gun running.  Hot on Cheadle's tail is 28 Days Later's Naomie Harris, the only honest cop on the island who eventually teams up with Harrelson more than just professionally.
 
After The Sunset may look like a rehash of the Bond formula for Brosnan, but under the direction of Ratner its more in the vein of Rush Hour and The Family Man.  It's not really an action picture at all, but a comedy that involves interaction between some smart and interesting characters.  The comedic element of the film comes from Harrelson and his interaction with Brosnan, but this film isn't slapstick or the type of humor he showcase on Cheers. With Brosnan as the lead, the film is more in the vein of a Cary Grant picture, though it would be unfair to compare it with To Catch A Thief.  The film is basically about chemistry, the chemistry between Brosnan and Harrelson, Harrelson and Harris and especially the fireworks between Brosnan and Hayek.  I'm sure some fans will be disappointed that her assets aren't showcased more, though when she displays her carpentry skills and tells Brosnan through her accent that she's "working on the deck" it sounds like she's referring to something else.
 
The weakest aspect of the film is the caper itself.  I initially thought this film would be about double crosses and uneasy alliances between enemies, friends and lovers, but the film focuses more on relationships than the McGuffin. Brosnan brings back some of the wit and humor he displayed in his Remington Steele days when he became an established star before Bond.  This type of film is a perfect fit for him and he looks comfortable in the skin of the character.  The iconic familiarity he established with James Bond is still there and his interactions within the film's tropical setting recalls Sean Connery in Dr. No.  Even Cheadle's appearance reminded me of John Kitzmiller's character Quarrel, as if he went bad and started a gang.  There are a few plot points in the film that fail and scenes that defy logic (a remote operated car comes to mind), but it has an enjoyable Lalo Shifren score and as a piece of entertainment the picture succeeds.